Curette with detachable tip

Abstract

The invention is a curette that includes a tip and shaft that detachably join together to form a working tool member. The shaft has a threaded receiving end that is sized to receive a mating end of the tip. The mating, or proximal, end of the tip includes a corresponding threaded section and a smaller-diameter outwardly extending elongated section that is flattened on one or more sides. To attach the tip to the shaft, a user partially fills the receiving end of the shaft with epoxy. The user then inserts the mating end of the tip into the receiving end of the shaft, such that the epoxy surrounds the elongated section of the mating end and fills or partially fills the threads. The user then screws the tip and shaft together, to interlock, or self-lock, the threads. When the epoxy thereafter hardens, the tip is firmly held against rotation relative to the shaft both by the epoxied and interlocked threads and the flattened-sided section that, because of its shape, resists rotation within the hardened epoxy. When the tip needs replacing, the tip is detached from the shaft by applying moderate heat to soften the epoxy and, thereafter, unscrewing the locking threads.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 272,173, which was filed on Feb. 28, 2001, by Russell P. Holmes for an IMPROVED CURETTE and is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to curettes for use in surgical procedures.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]Curettes are used in surgical operations as scraping tools. The curette consists of a handle and a working tool member that includes an elongated shaft and a shaped tip, such as a scoop or ring. The tip has a sharpened edge that facilitates the scraping. For added durability, the working tool member may be coated with a durable coating, such as titanium nitrate.[0006]The working tool member is generally constructed either as a one piece member or with the tip and shaft permanently welded together. The handle permanently or detachably joins to a pro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The shaft and tip are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Further, a titanium nitrate coating may be readily applied to only the tip before assembly of the tool member. The coating operation is thus relatively inexpensive to perform when compared to coating operations which coat the tip and all or a portion of the elongated shaft that is a permanent part of the one-piece or welded working tool member. Also, replacement costs are minimized with the current curette, because only the tip is replaced rather than an entire working tool member.

Problems solved by technology

The one-piece and welded working tool members are relatively expensive to manufacture.

Further, when the tip becomes worn, the entire member must be replaced, thus adding to the overall cost of the tool.

Also, the welded tool member may be damaged by excess heat during welding, which results in a softening of the material of the shaft and / or the tip, and thus, reduces the useful life of the working tool member.

If less than the entire member is to be coated, the manufacturer must cover the portions that are to remain uncoated, which add labor costs to the process.

Thus, relatively few pieces can be cured at a given time, making the coating process relatively expensive.

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